We all know that insects breed quickly so it will come as no surprise to you to learn that the average lifespan of a cockroach of any breed is between 8 and 12 months. A female will usually lay about 30 batches of eggs with each batch containing approximately 10 to 40 eggs.
That’s a maximum of 1,200 eggs per female per year. Those eggs can sure mount up in the right environment.
Environment
Cockroaches like to hang out in warm, moist places in and around the kitchen such as cracks in walls, behind the fridge or dishwasher, ansy furniture that is left undisturbed, stacked magazines and paper, kitchen cupboards especially below sinks, around and under hot water systems, drains, grease traps and in the garden.
An ideal setup for a cockroach would also have a nearby water source.
Tips to Help Keep Cockroaches at Bay
Things you can do to help yourself to avoid a plague of cockroaches include:-
- Clean up all food mess in the kitchen promptly.
- Clean the whole house on a weekly basis.
- Empty the kitchen rubbish regularly.
- Clean under and behind the fridge and stove often.
- Don’t stack magazines, boxes or paper anywhere in the house.
- Repair any holes, gaps or cracks in the walls, skirting boards or cupboards.
- Ensure that there are no sources of water via dripping taps, et cetera.
- Put away pets’ food bowls that have leftover food in them.
Risk to Humans
It is believed that the cockroach can become a carrier of disease and bacteria such as salmonella, staphylococcus, and streptococcus and even the polio virus.
This contamination can be done by the cockroach transmitting diseased bits of food from one site to another with their sticky and hairy legs. It may also be passed on through their disgusting habit of chewing and spewing food onto other food items.
Big Infestations Need Professional Attention
A few cockroaches may be all you think you have and perhaps you do only have a couple lurking under the fridge.
Bear in mind with the figures we have quoted above, it does not take long for a small group to expand.
Professional pest inspection specialists Defence Pest Management understand how cockroaches think and move and are able to dispatch your unwanted visitors quickly and quietly, with as little disruption to your home or office as possible.
Check out this month’s great offer.
